About

Action Santé Travesties et Transsexuel(le)s du Québec (ASTTeQ) has recently launched its trans health guidebook for health care and social service providers, called Taking Charge. It was created as a tool to educate a wide spectrum of health care and social service providers, ranging from social workers, lawyers, family doctors, endocrinologists, mental health professionals, nurses, and frontline workers at social justice organizations, shelters, and HIV/AIDS service organizations, etc. It is approximately sixty pages, and covers topics that touch on hormones, patient/client advocacy, legal name and sex designation changes, gender segregated facilities (i.e. shelters, prisons, detox facilities), and more! A committee of over a dozen individuals steered the content of this guide. The committee is composed of trans people from different backgrounds and communities, as well as frontline workers, health care professionals, and social service providers who work with and advocate for trans people. This project is based on the understanding that trans people must meaningfully contribute to their own health resources, and the consultation process therefore privileged trans voices.

ASTTeQ is a community trans health group, which aims to promote the health and well-being of trans people through peer support and advocacy, education and outreach, and community empowerment and mobilization. We understand the health of trans people and our communities to be interrelated to economic and social inequalities, which have resulted in trans people experiencing disproportionate rates of poverty, un(der)employment, precarious housing, criminalization and violence. We believe in the right to self-determine our gender identity and gender expression free from coercion, violence and discrimination. We advocate for access to health care that will meet the many needs of our diverse communities, while working collectively to build supportive, healthy and resilient communities.

We are looking to create links with health and social service providers, in order to improve access to relevant and respectful services for trans people in Québec. If you are interested in ordering a free copy of this guidebook, please contact our resource coordinator with your mailing address and relevant information at jackson.astteq@gmail.com.

Trans health issues aren’t taught in a classroom. Most providers become experts through experience, and you have to start somewhere! Ordering a copy of this guide is the first step to fostering trans-positive services!